From

Shirdi, Sathya Sai Mandir opening by Prof Anil Kumar in Achampet

From: Gyani Baile

Sai Ram to all of you.

Many of you are aware that after Shivangini passed away in Sept 2005, we started building a temple in Achampet since 2006. After almost 6 years the mandir finally got opened officially on Dec 14, 2011 by Prof Anil Kumar, the chief guest of honor from Sai Organization in Puttaparthi, accompanied by presidents of AP State, Mahbub Nagar District, and other officials, and devotees of the organization. The single most key person instrumental in building of this temple is the local Achampet Sai Center Convenor (president) Badam Krishnaiah. His wife Amruthamma put in as much effort as he did. It so happens that they do not have any children, and they pretty much dedicated their life to the service of Sai Organization and its activities for the last ~ 20 years.

This holy occasion/ milestone was organized totally by Krishnaiah and commenced on Dec 12 and culminated on Dec 14 when Prof Anil Kumar ceremonially blessed it. Five priests stayed in the temple and presided over the three day (Dec 12, 13, and 14) Homam (Yagna) and ceremonial puja. The priest has explained that, as per injunctions, in order to establish life breath into the sculptures (Prana Pratishta) in a temple, it needs Yantra, Mantra, and Tantra - Yantra (a copper plate with appropriate Bija Mantras etc), Mantra (sacred formulas that were uttered over the 3 day puja), and Tantra (the three day step by step procedure). Ceremonial Puja was done to the main deity along with Vastus (for temples they do puja to 64 Vastus while for house opening they do it for 84 Vastus), Nava Grahas (nine planets), and others. The deities’ sculptures to be established were first taken out in procession around town the first day; soaked in water for one day; and covered in certain grains for the second day, with the final ceremony on the third day. Procession in the town was accompanied by ceremonial dances, fire crackers, and band.

On the final day Yantras were placed ceremonially under the four sculptures – Lord Ganesha, Lord Dattatreya (Trinity form), a smaller Shirdi sculpture downstairs, and Life size Shirdi Sai sculpture in Shirdi Mandir upstairs. In the Satya Sai Mandir upstairs only a picture was placed; the Satya Sai sculpture on order was held back till a sculpture is first established at Swami’s Maha Samadhi in Prashanti. You can see in one of the photographs attached, the copper plate being placed ceremonially after Prof Anil Kumar blessed it with his touch. Similar thing was done for each of the other sculptures – Ganesha, Dattatreya, and smaller Shirdi Sai sculpture. After placing the Yantras underneath each of the sculptures, the final Purha Ahuti (final oblations into the fire) was performed in the presence of Prof Anil Kumar bringing the ceremonies to conclusion.

After the Purna Ahuti, Prof Anil Kumar gave two public speeches – One in Sathya Sai temple where he ceremonially unveiled the Sri Sathya Sai picture; second one was a much wider general public address in the nearby open grounds. On all the three days there was Anna Danam (feeding the poor) along with feeding the guests that attended; and on the final day there were few thousand guests who attended; and close to 8000 people were fed including the poor.

History and Experiences that led to this holy event are listed below and one can see the Divine hand all the way.

1) On April 30, 1998 Shivangini had a dream the night before and she related it to me in the morning on that day and we tape recorded it. In the dream Shivangini’s close friend Pushpa says that her older sister built a great temple in the way past named ‘Baal Vaakya’, it was big and beautiful, and lots of people used to come to that mandir and used to donate lots of money. In the morning Shivangini asked Swami (thru inner voice) about the meaning of the dream. Swami said that the name and other details are just a way of communication in the dream. He said lots of people got liberation in the mandir. Shivangini then said “Baba, are we supposed to do something about it?” referring to temple. He said “Not yet”. Both of us laughed at Swami’s choice of words which indicates that we are supposed to do something in future. In 2006 when I asked Krishnaiah to get the estimate for building the temple, I got the hint to proceed (it was a hint and conclusion on my part, and not any inner voice message from Swami). After Shivangini passed away I digitized the recording of her voice explaining this dream, and uploaded into my computer (if anyone wants to hear it, let me know).

2) On Apr 30, 2010 a friend of ours in USA had a dream where Baba comes to this person and says “Gyani and ….. (my friend interjected saying Dolly but Swami did not acknowledge) gave me a gift. It is a neck tie. It is an interesting gift. I will wear it when I wear a suit for meetings.” Later on we understood that Gyani and Krishnaiah’s effort on the mandir construction is the gift and it is going to decorate Sai like a neck tie; and many significant events are going to occur in this mandir.

3) October 27, 2011 I had a dream last night. In the dream I see Swami sitting in the wheel chair and there were bunch of people standing in a semi circle in front of him. Most of these people were close associates of Swami (organization members). I was standing among them, just watching. Krishnaiah was standing in the middle of the circle. Swami was telling the rest of them aboutKrishnaiah’s Seva (in regards to the Achampet temple) in praising superlative words. Krishnaiah was shedding tears of joy and at the same time said in Telugu “Swami, Gyani saar gurinchi kooda cheppandi” (Swami, please say something about Gyani too (since he is a part of this temple activity)). At that time I looked at Swami and He looked at me. He did not say a word, but his eyes shone like brilliant diamonds.

4) On November 26, 2011, Krishnaiah and I along with Sunil went over to invite Prof Anil Kumar to officially inaugurate the mandir. He declined due to a few reasons. We were stumped and did not know what to do. Next day Prof heard from his inside in Telugu “Baialu Deru, baialu deru” (get going, get going). Interestingly the same afternoon Prof ran into Krishnaiah on the main road in Puttaparthi unexpectedly, starts conversing, and tells him that he will come for the mandir opening.

5) In preparation for the opening, we had to move Shirdi Sai sculpture that weighs 1 Ton (1000 Kg) from downstairs to upstairs into the Shirdi Sai mandir. Any little bump while moving it across the function hall and up the stairs would easily chip or break the sculpture and we were worried. It took 10-15 people, a wooden platform, etc to move it across the function hall on Dec 10. We decided to get a crane next day from out of town to get it lifted up to second floor and not try to move it manually up the stairs. In meditation that afternoon I saw Shirdi sculpture sitting erect in its position in the mandir and understood that in spite of all the troubles the sculpture would reach the spot safely.

6) On Dec 15 (the day after Prof Anil Kumar opened it) I meditated in the afternoon at 5 pm. In a vision I saw same Shirdi sculpture again. This time it opened its eyes and opened its mouth as if thirsty. I was standing there with a few others next to me, andpouring water into the open mouth of Shirdi white marble sculpture. This vision told me that Shirdi Sai is showing active presence. He is always present passively, as a witness. But now He is showing active presence due to the ceremonial awakening. (Pg 7 Mar 28 ‘98, Making of Yogini, explanation on Invoking)

7) On Dec 18 Swami’s ex-students from Mirpuri college of music called and came on their own and gave a Thyagaraja Kirtan Kutcheri (Saint Thyagaraja’s music concert).

8) On Jan 5, 2012 Fred and Valerie gave a western devotional music concert. The same day in the morning Valerie sees a smilinghappy Shivangini in a vision in the temple. Valerie never met Shivangini in her life. Ankie Bagner sees in a vision during the concert in Satya Sai mandir, a Lingam and she is offering Bilva leaves and flowers to it.

9) Krishnaiah hired a priest from Rajahmundry, AP around Christmas time. His name is Hanumantha Rao and his wife is Kamala mani and are living in the mandir in the guest quarters. He started his duties and he does the 5 am puja and Abhisekam (bath) to Shirdi sculpture upstairs and offers Prasadam. After only a few days, after puja he saw a hand up to the wrist and made a gesture. Initially he thought he was hallucinating but after closing and opening his eyes he still saw it. Then it disappeared. He shared this incident with his wife. I asked him and he verified.

10) His wife Kamala spoke to me when I was at the temple on Jan 4, 5. She said she was never a Sai devotee – either Shirdi or Satya. In the last 10 days she has been here, one day she was still in bed in the morning while her husband was upstairs doing puja. She heard ‘get up and go upstairs for Abhisekam (bath of Shirdi sculpture)’. She was stunned but went upstairs. Every day her priest husband brings Prasadam for her after the Puja. On another day when she was still in bed, around 5 am, she heard ‘No Prasadam because you did not go for the Abhisekam’. She waited for her husband and when he came down she asked him ‘where is my Prasadam?’ He said ‘it is all over today due to lot of devotees’. After telling me these experiences she asked me why is she hearing all this. I told her that she is blessed and it is nothing but God’s grace and she needs to be in tune with it, listen to it, and follow it.

On Oct 21, 2004 (just before onset of Cancer), Shivangini and Baba were conversing and they spoke about Gyani. Swami said to Shivangini “He will do good work”. Shivangini asked “What will he do?” Swami said “You will be pleased”. - Pg 300, Making of a Yogini

Shirdi/ Satya temple in Achampet is a major milestone for the Shivangini Foundation. All the projects undertaken by it since 2006 are complete – 1) refurbishing the Dharam Shala at Bonthapalli, 2) all new Bhajan hall for Ram Mandir in Jagadeka puram, 3) Saraswati temple at Vedic school in Komaravelli, 4) Hanuman temple enclosure, and new building in Bus Stand, Achampet to provide drinking water to travelers, 5) Printing of 5 books; 1 booklet; free distribution, and 6) Shirdi and Satya Sai temple, Achampet is mostly complete (still needs some finishing).

Now I feel fairly satisfied that Swami has made me live up to Shivangini’s expectations!

Love and Sai Ram.

Gyani

From Prashanti Nilayam

Puttaparthi